Chapter 24- First Full draft
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you. 7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. (James 5:1-8, ESV)
Hélène, the mistress's maid, was horrified. Her adorably absurd faux French expressions of outrage that had immediately won the heart of the young bride had all been exhausted when she insisted on arranging her own hair and it was her natural Yorkshire brogue that erupted when the mistress left her chamber looking like a country miss instead of a real lady.
When Elizabeth could not hear her husband preparing for dinner she quickly pinned up her own hair as she had before her marriage. When Hélène confirmed that Davis had not seen him, instead of sending a footman as they urged her to do, she set out herself to find him. At the desk her husband was looking rather lost. She approached the desk and secured his attention by combing her fingers through his hair. He gazed up at her with a weary expression and she called a servant to request that their meal be brought to the study and to send a note of apology to Aunt Susan. She looked at his hand and noticed that he wore the Signet ring.
"What did you discover, my love?"
He handed her the letter and when she looked at him, her troubled eyes a mirror of his own, he stood and paced the length of the room claiming every inch he trod.
"She stole my whole life from me. The woman I called my mother, the person I wished most ardently to please was actively planning to take everything from me, my father, my family, my home – everything. And the man, her son, who tried to take from me even the three thousand pounds left to me by my father knew that he had no right to any of it. He had lived my life and it troubled him not at all to further harm me."
"I believe we should write some letters."
"No. We go to London at first light."
"Very well, have you any other letters from your mother, I know she did not write to you often but did you keep them?"
"I should have burned them. I will now."
"Certainly, but after we use them to show that it is indeed her letter."
"Well, Mrs. Darcy, I am very glad I married you."
She wrinkled her nose in distaste.
"You would have thought of it soon enough. I do not know how quickly I can accustom myself to that. Mr. Darcy is a horrid man."
"No. I am Fitzwilliam Darcy of Pemberley and Wickham is the villain."
"Do be careful that you do not become unbearably proud."
He smiled at her and disappeared to retrieve his letters only moments before the tray arrived. When the servants left she went to collect the miniature of Mrs. Wickham.
They met again in front of the fire and her serious clergyman husband asked her how she felt about kidnapping a lady.
"I disapprove of it entirely, what are you meaning to do?"
"My moth- Mrs. Wickham's cottage is on the way to London and I thought I might pretend to offer to bring her into our home now that we have Pemberley. We will offer to take her to London for a suitable wardrobe and instead bring her before the Judge. I shall send a request to Colonel Fitzwilliam to see if he will find a pretext to do the same with - - the imposter."
"You are remarkably devious, is that a trait inherited from the Darcys or learned from the Wickhams?"
"If it is inherited it must come from the Fitzwilliams. I understand the Darcys are all as sober as judges."
"Well, I approve. How many days will we need to travel with her?"
"One and a half I should guess."
"I think we must leave poor Aunt Susan. She will not want to be part of this nonsense. Can we invite someone to keep her company?"
"Yes," he sighed a resigned sigh, "this will take a little preparation. We will leave in two days. We do have letters to write."
Elizabeth laughed and though they started their meal only picking at the lovely dishes chef had made they were both suddenly very hungry and relished every bite. Chef Josef celebrated his success with an extra serving of each dish for his own supper.
The next day soon after breakfast they told Aunt Susan about the letter. After reading it she was unable to speak for some time and then placed the letter in front of the young man she had raised.
"Your grandfather- well, that is not-," taking a breath she began again. "We knew she was selfish, but Albert would listen to no criticism. She was young and pretty and led him a merry dance before she consented to marry him. He never could say no to her. I hurt for my brother believing she had betrayed him. I am sure she knew what he thought, it did not bother her. Now to see how far that betrayal went – robbing him of the chance to know his son – and how many people she was willing to harm- It is too much."
They told her about their plans to travel to London and asked if she wished to join them.
"I must, I think. I must see Bertie's son. You my boy will never be replaced and I will never forget you – even should you decide I have no place here any longer – but I must see him. Perhaps the family resemblance will help the judge discern the truth. This subterfuge you plan to undertake – Pamela and I were never friendly – I will choose to be quiet."
"Aunt Susan, you will always have a home with me."
Elizabeth addressed her husband, "Very well said my love," suddenly beaming at them all with an unsettling gleam of amusement touched with malice, she added, "now we must all prepare for the journey. I shall inform Davis to pack your belongings, husband, and you may begin sending your letters. Perhaps we may leave as early as tomorrow?"
Smiling, he answered, "I believe we may."
His wife was delighted. "I must confess this plan of yours turns this melancholy business into an adventure."
They had travelled south through Staffordshire on the first day and having reached Worcestershire they wondered if the elder Mr. Darcy had chosen to place her cottage on a small estate more than one county away for a reason. Once they arrived at the handsome cottage, no one was surprised when Pamela Wickham greeted them in a costume abundantly trimmed with frills and flounces. Though her companions forced their smiles, Elizabeth greeted the woman enthusiastically,
"Mother Wickham!! You look delightful! What do you think? Did you ever imagine it? You did of course receive the express? Well we shall stop a moment, but only a moment mind, for the shops in Piccadilly await us. Have you ever had ices at Guntars? Divine are they not! We shall eat two a day."
'Mother' Wickham was quite overwhelmed by this excess of charm but as shopping in London and apartments in the family wing at Pemberley were the bait she was quite willing to be lured into the carriage. Her bags had been packed as soon as the express came and she grasped her 'son's' arm and cooed about how fine, tall, and handsome he looked. She was disappointed that she was expected to ride backwards with Aunt Susan, whose quiet disapproval she was forced to endure even at the inn. They were expected to share a bedroom and a bed. That inconvenience was made tolerable with the additional luxury of a personal maid. She presumed, of course, that Agnes' principal duty would be to attend to herself and Susan allowed her to berate and beguile the poor girl by turns. Susan whispered to her young confidante,
"Never mind her pets, love, we will smile at her for only one day more."
If Agnes were not already aware of the situation she might have been frightened by the cryptic statement, but she giggled instead.
Dawdling over her toilet and sighing that her hair was not styled to her satisfaction, Pamela sneered."Susan, I am surprised at your manners! Whispering is not the done thing in fashionable circles. And now that we are to socialise with the nobility I think you should not treat a servant like a school chum. It is shockingly inelegant." Her hunger had at last conquered her vanity and she began to fill her reticule.
Agnes bowed demurely to hide her smile and Susan offered only a dignified nod before she left the room. One day suddenly seemed like an eternity. Susan joined her 'nephew' and his wife in their private parlour. He was toying with an express he had received from town. As soon as their party were all gathered for breakfast he announced:
"They have agreed to release the Darcy family jewels to me since they belong to the estate and I will collect them from the judge tomorrow-"
Elizabeth, who had read the note, eagerly interrupted him, "Oh no, dearest, let it be this very day as soon as we get to London! Let us all go in to see them"
He smiled indulgently at her. "Yes, I do believe we can make it to London in time ,but we cannot tarry over breakfast or take long when we change horses. Davis has arranged a hamper to be prepared for our refreshment as we travel."
Everyone stood except Pamela Wickham who had only begun to butter her scone.
"Elizabeth, dear, what is the rush, why must we have an uncomfortable journey? The jewells surely can wait until morning."
The younger woman smiled affectionately and thread her arm through the other woman's elbow just when she prepared to take a bite.
Her 'son' approached from the other side. "Not a minute to waste." Taking her other arm, he obliged her to stand.
Determined to keep her distracted Elizabeth explained herself. "Mother Wickham surely you understand! Never fear, if we are permitted to see them today you will be rewarded for your efforts."
"Yes, mother dearest, I am determined that in London you shall be treated exactly as you deserve."
Perfectly satisfied with her own merits and confident that the young man was still desperate to please her, she swallowed her displeasure in place of her scone and did as she was bid. The road to London rapidly diminished as their coaches pushed forward towards the capital and they arrived in very good time.